Illegal to drive slow in the fast lane ?


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How many times have you cursed at drivers crawling along in the fast lane, way below the posted speed limit? It must be one of the most frustrating circumstances you can encounter when driving, not to mention the innate dangers it presents. If there?s ever a situation that could provoke road rage, it?s being held up by an ignorant motorist, pointlessly blocking the passing lane. But if you live in Florida, this issue could potentially be solved, as the Florida House and Senate have passed a bill that would make it illegal to drive slowly in the fast lane.

The so-called ?road rage? bill is reportedly years in the making, and it was pushed through, in part, by Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg: ?I think it?s going to make us a little bit safer,? Brandes predicts.

The bill proposes that if you drive 10 mph or more below the posted speed limit, while dawdling in the left hand lane, the penalty would be a $60 fine. The law would be in effect for any road with two or more lanes.

Of course, the Governor has to pass this legislation for it to take effect, and the question lingers as to whether it would truly deter those making a habit of clogging up the left hand lane. While a straight "fix" remains impossible, and this may not be the easiest of crimes to police, it's a solid step in the right direction to eliminating unnecessary automotive vexations.

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Considering that there are statistics that show that you are more of a hazard if you drive 10 miles under the limit than someone driving 10 miles over, this is extremely good news.

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Considering that there are statistics that show that you are more of a hazard if you drive 10 miles under the limit than someone driving 10 miles over, this is extremely good news.

Pretty much this, glad that they're looking to do something about it. A lot of people underestimate the dangers of slow driving on the highway.

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It's not a 'fast lane'. It's a passing lane.

In many states, it's illegal to be in the passing lane while not overtaking another vehicle or coming up on a left exit. "Failure to keep right" is a 2pt ticket where I'm from.

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I get confused when there are 3 lanes. You are not sure if the right lane will end, is only for exits.

Or you may need to exit in the left lane.

Or you stay in the middle to keep going on the same Route number. :wacko:

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It's not a 'fast lane'. It's a passing lane.

In many states, it's illegal to be in the passing lane while not overtaking another vehicle or coming up on a left exit. "Failure to keep right" is a 2pt ticket where I'm from.

Exactly, someone finally gets it. The left lane is for passing. It doesn't mater how fast or slow your going if your in the fast lane and someone comes up from behind you and you're going 100 MPH and they are doing 120 MPH you move over, its that simple the rate of speed has hardly anything to do with it. If someone is behind you in the left lane, MOVE OVER! It's called the flow of traffic.

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I get confused when there are 3 lanes. You are not sure if the right lane will end, is only for exits.

Or you may need to exit in the left lane.

Or you stay in the middle to keep going on the same Route number. :wacko:

Do you not have dotted lane lines to dictate when a lane is turning off?

Here in the UK, our lanes have wide spaced white lines for straight ahead and when it turns to an exit lane, the lines on the side (our right, I assume your left) would turn to smaller dotted lines.

We also have cats eyes, with green for exits, white for lane and orange for central, with red marking the edge. Much easier to drive on the highway at night with these markings. For daytime driving, you're better off just following the flow of traffic.

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It's not a 'fast lane'. It's a passing lane.

In many states, it's illegal to be in the passing lane while not overtaking another vehicle or coming up on a left exit. "Failure to keep right" is a 2pt ticket where I'm from.

THANK YOU! Can't tell you how frustrating it is that there are so many asshats out there who treat the left lane as their own personal lane and it is somehow an affront that someone else dares use it lol.

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about time they added this law. I have to drive through old people central (the villages) to get to work and it makes me rage so hard going and coming from work

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I thought it was esentially illegal to be a turtle on the road, it was one of the first things I learned many moons ago, and at least in PR and in TN you can get a ticket for going too slow as well as speeding

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I thought it was esentially illegal to be a turtle on the road, it was one of the first things I learned many moons ago, and at least in PR and in TN you can get a ticket for going too slow as well as speeding

Yea well, then you get the people who think its their civic duty to drive 55 on freeway in the left lane. "55 saves lives." My ass. You will be the one getting hit with whiplash when someone flies into you.

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I thought it was esentially illegal to be a turtle on the road, it was one of the first things I learned many moons ago, and at least in PR and in TN you can get a ticket for going too slow as well as speeding

There is a maximum and minimum posted speed limit. Here you'll see a max speed limit of 60mph (in the city) and a minimum of 45mph.

Anyway, given that the left lane is a passing lane, and you're probably not passing anybody if you're driving over 10mph under the posted max speed limit, this is already illegal... no additional law necessary. It's illegal to stay in the left lane more than half a mile.

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There is a maximum and minimum posted speed limit. Here you'll see a max speed limit of 60mph (in the city) and a minimum of 45mph.

Anyway, given that the left lane is a passing lane, and you're probably not passing anybody if you're driving over 10mph under the posted max speed limit, this is already illegal... no additional law necessary. It's illegal to stay in the left lane more than half a mile.

Depends on the state. We don't have minimum speeds posted here, just single speed limit signs.

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The bill proposes that if you drive 10 mph or more below the posted speed limit, while dawdling in the left hand lane, the penalty would be a $60 fine. The law would be in effect for any road with two or more lanes.

Great idea - we need this here in Australia too. Of course it would be the right lane over here! (the fast lane).

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It should be obvious, if you are in the left most lanes and people are passing you on the right, you need to move over. There was a debate about this bill in Atlanta and For some reason, people feel that they need to be speed enforcers in the left lanes. If people want to speed let them, let the police handle the rest. I don't tend to speed, but if the flow of traffic is going 5-10 over I will do that for my own safety

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In florida there is no regulation saying the left lane is a passing lane, and you're free to drive in either one at all times. Apparently that's uncommon for every other state, This is nice, although i've never seen anyone going 10 under in the fast lane. I've seen people doing 5 under, but that would be hard to regulate.

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I've never had a problem with people going BELOW the speed limit here in California, it's just that people go the actual speed limit sometimes (65) as opposed to the ideal 80. I don't think there's anything they can do there.... Lol.

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In florida there is no regulation saying the left lane is a passing lane, and you're free to drive in either one at all times.

316.081?Driving on right side of roadway; exceptions.?

(1)?Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:

(a)?When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement;

(b)?When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway; provided any person so doing shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

©?Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon; or

(d)?Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way traffic.

(2)?Upon all roadways, any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3)?Upon any roadway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of the centerline of the roadway, except when authorized by official traffic control devices designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes, or except as permitted under paragraph (1)(b). However, this subsection shall not be construed as prohibiting the crossing of the centerline in making a left turn into or from an alley, private road, or driveway.

(4)?A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/316.081

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I thought in most countries it was already illegal to drive significantly below the speed limit slowing down traffic an causing hazardous situations. this seems like an unnecessary law.

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In my state it's illegal to go above the speed limit even in the passing lane and even if to overtake another car. So if both lanes are 55mph, that is the limit regardless. Yet many here don't really think of it like that as most are complete idiots to driving laws for each state anyway. Semi's usually it's posted 10mph under for them in the right hand lane, which makes it a pain imo cause then I have to keep weaving left and right constantly cause the left lane everyone else goes way over the posted limit.

Imo, some driving laws are seriously flawed because too many roads are not designed to handle today's traffic and many towns don't maintain signs and markers like they should.

I thought in most countries it was already illegal to drive significantly below the speed limit slowing down traffic an causing hazardous situations. this seems like an unnecessary law.

no so long as you use flashers or slow moving sign. Plus in my area, they allow farmers to drive their tractors, even on two lane highways for miles, it's not really legal but they don't enforce it so it doesn't matter.

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It's not a 'fast lane'. It's a passing lane.

In many states, it's illegal to be in the passing lane while not overtaking another vehicle or coming up on a left exit. "Failure to keep right" is a 2pt ticket where I'm from.

Pretty much what I was going to post. (Y)

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I think a lot of problems would also be solved if the "flashing lights to pass" wasn't taken as some sort of offense here in the States. In Europe it's rather the norm to flash lights as you approach slower motorists so they can get over to the right and out of the way. (After all, it's not a race, it's just that some people can/prefer to drive faster than others.) Here, man, if you flash your lights people get all angry about it and flip the bird and slam the brakes and actually go well out of their way to be a jerk. O.o a friend of mine nearly got shot that way when she had just moved here from Germany.

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